The Art of Collaboration:
Karlie Kloss and Thom Bettridge

The role of magazines in shaping culture, whether it’s to amplify or to disrupt, has been up for debate as of late. With high production costs, dwindling revenue profits, and the ever-present drum of the digital sphere’s beat, it has been tough to justify making printed matter. Yet, there remains a loyal legion of devotees who yearn not just for a nostalgic return to print’s glory days, but a deliberate reimagining of magazines as cultural institutions for the next generation. Unexpectedly leading the charge behind-the-scenes has been supermodel Karlie Kloss, who has proven herself beyond her runway status – the tech-savvy entrepreneur has, in 5 years, morphed into a media-mogul with her company Bedford Media, spearheading a renaissance of publications, none more buzzworthy than i-D Magazine. After purchasing the storied UK-tome from Vice Media Group in 2023 and becoming its chief executive officer, Kloss appointed editor-in-chief, Thom Bettridge, in 2024 to stand at the center of its legacy as a DIY-driven platform where fashion, music, art, and internet culture converge.

In Bettridge, Kloss found a creative counterpart who understands the legacy of his inherited publication. With an editorial career spanning from 032c, Interview, Highsnobiety, where he served as editor-in-chief, and a recent tenure as vice president of creative content at e-tailer SSENSE, Bettridge has long been a champion of independent voices and unconventional storytelling. Under his leadership, i-D plans to bring the same UK-heavy, culture-spanning spirit that defined the magazine’s punk origins to global perspectives, digitizing its archives for public access while experimenting with boundary-pushing covers and cross-disciplinary projects. In the latest segment of The Art of Collaboration, Models.com sat down with Kloss and Bettridge to reveal how business acumen and editorial vision intertwine, how magazines can still make or break cultural moments, and why, at their best, they remain necessary vessels for discovery.